Michael Sievert

It's always fascinating when stealthy technology companies get acquired before announcing what they are doing. It happened earlier this month when eBay quietly purchased Positronic, a Seattle startup led by former Microsoft search chief Christopher Payne. And now it has happened again with yet another former Microsoft big shot.

Lenovo -- the personal computer giant -- today announced the purchase of Seattle-based Switchbox Labs for an undisclosed price.

Led by former Windows marketing vice president Michael Sievert, Switchbox was relatively unknown until two weeks ago when my TechFlash colleagues uncovered the startup's name and corporate documents. Todd Bishop encountered Sievert at the airport after the Consumer Electronics Show, but the former Microsoft exec didn't want to say much about what he was doing.

Given today's news, maybe there was good reason why Sievert was being a little cagey at the airport. Still, even though Lenovo issued a press release on the deal, not much is really known about Switchbox. Here's a short excerpt from the release:

"The company’s development projects are confidential, but will continue under Lenovo ownership. It is expected that Switchbox technologies will be integrated into Lenovo products in the future."

OK. Not many clues there. But the bare bones Web site Switchboxlabs.com -- along with Sievert's most recent blog posts -- seem to indicate that the startup may be developing a new type of Internet TV experience.

As part of the deal, Switchbox's other co-founders Robert Dickinson and Blake Ramsdell will join Lenovo. And Sievert has been named senior vice president, reporting directly to CEO William Amelio.

Amelio kept his cards pretty close to the vest too in the press announcement. “Switchbox Labs is doing some interesting work, and we are pleased that Switchbox and Mike are joining Lenovo," he said.

Stay tuned.